Folding telephone handset



May 23, 1950 s. G. SEARS FOLDING TELEPHONE HANDSET Filed Oct. 21, 1947 WNW.

`Patented May 23,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FGLDING TELEEHON'E HANDSET Sterling G. Sears, Garden City, N. Y., assigner to Roanwell Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application October'Zl, 1947, Serial No. 781,161

9l Claims. l

This invention relates to telephone instruments, i. e. devices for translating sound into electrical energy and vice versa for transmission over Wire, radio or other circuits, and the invention relates more particularly to telephone hand sets comprising a transmitter and receiver to be held or otherwise used bythe operator at a particular station.

A primary object is to provide an improved hand set, 'light in weight, but of sturdy construction, which is adapted for a variety of uses, especially with portable or `mobile equipment, or in aircraft, boats, vehicles or other circumstances where an economy of space and weight. is desirable. such a hand set, which is of a folding character, and at the same time of. novel and convenient construction, so that when not in use it may occupy Aa minimum of space.

Other objects are to provide devices of the character described embodyingnovel `means for adjustment of the several parts; particularly ad-v justment of angular position between .the transmitter and the receiver; to provide struc-tures having the stated adjustablev character, withprovision for ready maintenanceof anydesired positional relationship; to providelseparate adjustability of theA positionofone of the instruments, e. g. the transmitter; .and to provide novel supporting and connecting instrumentaliti'es, of a strong yet light and economical nature. Still further objects include provision of `improved switching means embodied in .hand sets of the character described, and ralso to aiordxiolding hand set structures designed to minimize Idamage to the acoustical elements.

To these andv other ends, including` such as are hereinbelow disclosed or otherwise apparent, a presently preferred `embodiment of the invention is set forth by way of example inthe accompanying drawings, and in the following description, which will serve to illustrate theefeatures and principles of improvement.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan Viewv of the hand set, in open position;

Fig. 2 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 1, with a portion of the receiver in longitudinal section and indicating-the Iclosed position of the Another important object vis to provide Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged section online 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the hand set com-prises a receiver l, a transmitter H, a supporting section or framework i2- for the receiver and a corresponding, supporting section or framework i3 for the transmitter, the supporting structures being p'ivotally connected or hinged at I4. It will be understood that the electrical translating instru-mentalities respectively enclosed by the illustrated transmitter and receiver housings may be of any suitable construction and hence are not set forth in further detail. The receiver lil includes a cap I6 threaded on the case l'l, the cap lli having an externally threaded, projecting portion i8, apertured' across its' face for transmitting sound to the ear of the operator. An ear cushion 29, e. g. of sponge rubber or the like, is preferably provided, having a backing plate 2!! of corresponding circular coniiguration. llhe backing plate has an'internally threaded, ii'anged, central opening structure 2A adapted to be screwed down over the projection I8', thus mount-"- ing the ear cushion on the cap it and its associated receiver case il.

The supporting section i2 includes a flat, rela-- tively stiff plate portion 2li with a circular opening which is conveniently a little larger than the periphery of the cap projection i8 and which may thus be fitted over the latter so that the plate 2-4 can be secured to the receiver by screwing the cushion plate 2i down against the cap i6 with the plate 2d between them. In thisway the receiver is securely anchored to the supporting structure, advantageously vat a locality which is close-'to the-head of the operator during use of the instrument. As `a result the hand set Vis of special convenience in use, avoiding parts that project 'in a cumbersome manner andv adapting the hand set for service in circumstances where bulky devices are objectionable, for instance where the hand set must be used beneath a helmet vor yother Vspecial head gear.

Integral with the plate portion 2li, the support i2 includes a body Vportion 2t of like, substantial, transverse dimension, having a tubular orf like conduit-forming part .2 extending longitudinally thereof. At itsfurther end the structure I2 comprises a continuing plate or str'ipwh'ich is bent around in a cylindrical conguration 28 to enclose a cylindrical pin :or kshaft it which has its axis transverse of the supporting structure, as shown. Although for seine purposes the section i2 may be fashioned in` other ways; it maybe very conveniently made of metal tubing, generally flattened and with portions completely cut away at the end regions 24 and 28 so as to present a single, plane element at such localities. Instead of being simply flattened at its central region, the tubing may advantageously be compressed to provide a section of the sort shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, including the conduit portion 21 which opens at the outer face of the structure near the receiver at 32 and also on the opposite or inner face of the structure near the hinge at 33.

The other supporting section I3 comprises a spaced, substantially parallel pair of stiff wires or thin rods 34, which traverse corresponding, elongated openings in the c-ase 36 of the transmitter, i. e. at 31, 38. Most conveniently, the described framework may be made of a single length of stiff wire bent in a long U-shape so that the bottom of the U 39 is disposed at the outer side of the transmitter case 36 and the legs of the U then constitute the supporting elements 34 extending from the inner side of the transmitter case to the hinge I4, where the ends 4I of the wires or rods are turned inwardly toward each other and secured within the opposite ends of an axial hole 42 in the cylindrical hinge member 30. The last mentioned member has a milled slot 43 across each end, intersecting the hole 42 and having a width to admit a Wire 34; thus as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the wire portions immediately adjacent the inwardly turned sections 4I are seated in the slots 43, so that the frame I3 and the cylindrical member can only turn together, and the wires cannot turn within the latter. A bracing and wire-supporting element 44 is secured to the wires 34 at a locality between the hinge and the transmitter, the member 44 being conveniently fashioned from a section of metal tubing compressed to a somewhat flattened con- .dition so that it provides loops or sleeves 45 gripping the respective wires 34 and also includes a tubular conduit section 46. The element 44 .thus extends transversely between the wires, serving as a brace and likewise as a guide or support for an insulated conductor or cable 43 which may extend from the receiver casing I1, through the conduit 21, past the inside of hinge ,I4 and then through the conduit 46 to the transmitter case 36. The openings 31, 38 through which the wires 34 traverse the transmitter case are arranged to have considerable frictional grip lon the wires, but such that the transmitter may, with appropriate force, be slid manually toward or away from the outer portion 39 of the U- shaped support. In this manner the position of the transmitter, lengthwise of the supporting means, can be Very readily adjusted and yet the transmitter will remain in the adjusted position. Preferably the wires 34 have some stiff resilience, which cooperates in providing a desired grip of their surfaces with the holes 31, 38 in the transmitter.

The cylindrical or tubular portion 28 fashioned at the end of the supporting frame I2 is conveniently designed, with somewhat inherent resilience, to have a frictional grip about the cylindrical periphery of the member 30, subject to forcible rotation of the latter. In consequence, the pivot assembly has the character of a friction hinge or clutch (having a desirably large area of frictional engagement), so that the structure I3 may be turned about the pivot axis relative to the structure I2 with manually exerted force of reasonable amount, and yet will remain quite securely in any position in which it is left.

Advantageously the cylindrical structure 28 includes a portion 50 which is somewhat longer in an axial direction, i. e. somewhat wider across the support than the outermost transverse dimension between the wires 34, the remaining portion 5I, i. e. more than half, of the cylindrical structure having a smaller width which is adapted to fit between the wires 34, so that a shoulder 52 is provided at each end of the cylinder 28 to constitute a stop for the wires 34. The shoulders or stops 52 may thus be positioned for a maximum opening of the hand set, it being understood that in use the operator will open the hand set to any position, i. e. usually short of the stops 52, which suits him, for instance a position where the receiver and transmitter are disposed in convenient, close relation to his ear and mouth.

It will now be seen that the structure permits the support portion I3 and transmitter II to be folded back against the receiver as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines 54 in Fig. 2. To facilitate such folding and also to provide better disposition of the transmitter in conformity with the operators head and face, the wires 34 are bent to an appropriately non-linear or concave shape, e. g. as by a rather sharp bend 55 (somewhat near the hinge I4) of something less than 135, and a further bend of relatively smaller change of direction, e. g. an angle of about at the locality 56 between the brace 46 and a straight portion of the framework 58 along which the transmitter II may be slidably adjusted in the manner described above. By virtue of the bent construction, preferably of thesort shown, the face 60 of the transmitter can be disposed natwise, in fully conforming relation, relative to the face of the receiver when the hand set is folded as indicated in Fig. 2. So folded, with the rim of the transmitter face resting squarely against the inner surface of the ear cushion, the hand set comprises a remarkably compact and easily stored device. The sensitive translating instrumentalities are in effect held together (with the aid of the friction clutch) in a firm relation such that neither can inadvertently strike against the other, and at the same time the electrical parts are fully protected. It will be noted, however, that by virtue of the open or frame-like construction, particularly of the portion I3, the cable 48 that extends between the instruments does not encumber the hinge nor is it interfered with by the latter. As shown at 48a in Fig. 2, the cable portion between the conduits 21 and 46 simply loops out between the wires 34 when the hand set is in folded position.

The line cable 6I for connection of both receiver and transmitter with the transmission circuit, conveniently extends tc the receiver case I1 'at the side of the latter nearest the hinge I4. Thus the connecting cable is completely free of the transmitter Il and the associated parts, yet depends readily from the heavier portion of the assembly (i. e. the receiver) for good anchorage and without obstruction to the operators manual grip of the assembly. When the hand set is to be used in radio or like circuits where a switch must be manually actuated in order to alter circuit conditions from talking position to listening position, such switch is conveniently mounted in the receiver casing, for instance with an operating button 32 projecting Although any of a variety ofY switches may .be employed, Fig. illustrates a convenient arrangement, suitable for instance where-a circuit to the transmitter must be closed by pushing the button 62 when itis desired to talk rather than to listen, or similarly suitable where a relay is to be controlled for remote control of radio equipment by such relay.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the switch mechanism is lcontained in a recess 63 and includesva iixed contact 64, a lcooperating movable contact 65 mounted on the end of a spring 66 which' is in `turn secured by a spring loop portion thereof -61 having its further extremity 68 fastened to the .face of the recess` 53 which carries the contact 64. A supplemental spring strip 1B is also vdisposed in the recess, between the arm 156 and the convex operating end 1|` of the shank l2 .for the button 62. The spring 70 is 'curved -around the contact support 66, for example as shown, 'and is iitted in, and extends between, notches 13 14 at opposite ends of the casing.

The relation of the parts is conveniently such that when the button 62 is depressed its end TH pushes down the spring vinto engagement with vthe contact support 66 at a central region of the latter, i. e. approximately under the button plunger 'l2-Tl, and thus forces the contact vsupport 66 downward -until the contact 65 engages the contact 64, for the desired circuit-controlling operation. A full, square abutment of the contacts is obtained and is not impaired by the substantial over-travel of the operating button, the parts shown being in fact designed to permit and expect such-over-travel in ordinary use. Thus the operator need merely push the button, usually las far as it will go, and without having to sense whether he has pushed it enough or too much for proper meeting `of the contacts. Alternatively, the parts illustrated may be made to have .characteristics of resilience or stiiiness relative to each other or between portions of each, such that on pushing the button, 'the engagement of the spring T0 With the looped end 61 of the contact support suflioiently deforms the loop itself as to lbring the contacts together Without direct pressure on the main body of the support 6B and in such circumstances, too, there can be considerabl'e over-travel of the button without aiecting the Adesired contact engagement.

When the receiver 'is closed against the transmitter, or otherwise vwhen the parts are in folded relation, it is possible that the openings in the faces of these instruments may in 'eifect be so sealedY relative to each other that `shocks of a pressure pulse or acoustic nature may arise, even tending 'to have some detrimental effect on the sensitive electrical parts. While such shock may be relieved or preventedr by having van imperfect t of the receiver and transmitter in `closed position (e. g. with one slightly tilted relative to the other) the structure shown includes an acoustic leak vcomprising .a pair of 4"small holes "l5 in the support plate 2i of the receiver ear cushion, the holes extending through the plate near or at the base of the flange 22, the cushioning structure 29 itself being disposed to provide access to the holes as 'shown in Figs. 1 and v2. 'Thus any pressure .pulse or the like Vbuilt up` between 'the :faces of the transmitterand receiver may escape or be by-pa'ssed through the holes 15, vit being under'- vstood that the engaging faces "of the elements I6, 2'4"and' 2 I although 'mechanically tight, ordinarily provide 'suiicient air leak to aiford relief .for a pressure V.pulse traversing the openings 75. If desired, however, the connection of the `last named partsmay .includesy washer '-(notlzshown) ha-Ving'a. uted or other suitable-icongurationfto facilitate the relief or leak effect.

It will now be :seen that 'the illustrated 'stmicsture constitutes a telephone hand setfczf exceptionally light weight and extraordinarily compact natu-re, folding into a remarkably small space; At the same time, they device can not only l'be opened to constitute afb-and set of fullsize, but .is capable of :adjustment in a plurality of respects., i. e. both angularly about its central hinge-:and longitudinally 'between the receiver' and transmitter virtue of the siiding ,displacement of the latter. The adjustment is-simply made by manually movi-ng the :part or parts to 'thedesired position, and in each case or instance, the adjusted .portion is held flrmly, by fricticnpin the selected relation. The device .iseasy to hold, e. g. by :grasping the portion 26., 'and 'even itsfopen 'position occupies :a minimum Vof space, so asnot to encumber its 'use under various special conditions as indicated hereinabove. Fin-ally, the apparatus is fully adapted for embodiment of electrical parts of desired character 4and `connarises connecting arrangements which zare :safely held in suitable mechanical relation, provision also being made for fan operating switch, lfor example, the user can easily a'c'tuate' withy the thumb of the hand whereby'heholds the: device (e. g. his hand Vgripping the 'set around the receiver and the portion 25). Accompl'ishing fail 'oI the results described above, vthe present handset is alsov of extremely light yweight `and economical to make, yet strong enough to withstand severe conditions of use.

Itv is to'be understood 'that 'the-invention yis :not limited to thespecic embodiments herein shown and described, but may be 'carried' out in Aother ways without departure from `its spirit 'as vdefined bythe following claims.

I claim:

1. A telephone hand set comprising a trans-k mitter, a receiver, a supporting frame extending -from the transmitter., a supporting frame extend'- ing from 4the receiver and means including a frictionally retarded hinge connecting said frames at localities of each spaced from the transmitterand receiver respectively, said being. thereby adapted to be .folded towardeach other with the transmitter and receiver in .juxtaposed relation and to be opened and frictionally held with the transmitter and receiver inoperatively spaced relation, said .frictionally .retarded .hinge comprisi-ng members lmutually engaged over a large area, said `members being. connected .respectively to said supporting frames, one of said men-diversY resiliently exerting .frictionon thev other over said area, so that-the frames may be held by friction lin any of a multiplicity of angular `relations to each other..

2. A telephone hand set comprising a receiver havinga body portion and an .adjacent ear piece having an outer faceto engagetheear, the thickness of -said ear piece between its ear-engaging face and the body portion being smallrelative to the thickness of the body portion, a supporting structure Secured to said receiver intermediate said body portion and `the outer tace of said ear piece whereby the supporting structure may l.be disposed Yclose to the head of an operator using the hand set, a transmitter having supporting structure 'extending therefrom, and afrietionally retarded hinge ldisposed atl localities fol*- said sup.- porting structures spaced -fromf-thefreceiver .and

transmitter respectively, and .providirisxa l.ioinij.,

between said structures, so that the transmitter and receiver may be folded into compact relationship and may be opened into spaced, operative position, said frictionally retarded hinge comprising members mutually engaged over a large area, said members being connected respectively to said supporting structures, one of said members resiliently exerting friction on the other over said area, so that the structures may be held by friction in any of a multiplicity of angular relations to each other.

3. A telephone hand set comprising a receiver having a face adapted to engage the ear of a user, a frame work secured to said receiver adjacent said face and extending to an end spaced from the receiver, a transmitter, a supporting frame work for the transmitter, comprising means frictionally secured thereto for sliding adjustment of the transmitter lengthwise of said last mentioned frame work, said frame work extending to an end spaced from the transmitter, and means comprising a frictionally retarded hinge, for connecting said frame works at their said respective ends, so that the transmitter and receiver may be folded into compact relation and may be opened and held frictionally in a spaced, operative relation, the ear engaging face of the receiver and the speech-receiving face of the transmitter having configurations adapted to conform with each other upon abutment of said faces, and the frame works having such dimensions, and at least one of the frame works comprising a non-linear portion of such character, that in the aforesaid folded relation the receiver and transmitter faces are held in the aforesaid conforming abutment.

4. A telephone hand set comprising a receiver having a face adapted to engage the ear of a user, a frame work secured to said receiver adjacent said face and extending to an end spaced from the receiver, a transmitter, a. supporting frame work for the transmitter, comprising means frictionally secured thereto for sliding adjustment of the transmitter lengthwise of said last mentioned frame work, said frame Work extending to an end spaced from the transmitter, and means comprising a frictionally retarded hinge, for connecting said frame works at their said respective ends, so that the transmitter and receiver may be folded into compact relation and may be opened and held frictionally in a spaced, operative relation, the ear engaging face of the receiver and the speech-receiving face of the transmitter having configurations adapted to conform with each other upon abutment of said faces when the transmitter is in one position of sliding adjustment, and the transmitter-supporting framework comprising a stiff U-shaped wire structure disposed with the bend of the U beyond the transmitter and with the legs of the U extending through the transmitter for said frictional sliding adjustment, and having inwardly turned ends connected to said frictionally retarded hinge, said wires being bent to provide the aforesaid abutment of the transmitter and receiver faces when they are folded together.

5. A telephone hand set comprising a receiver having a body vportion and an ear piece having an ear-engaging face, said body portion extending to a substantial distance rearwardly of the ear piece, the thickness of said ear piece between its ear-engaging face and the body portion being small relative to said rearwardly extending thickness of the body portion, a supporting frame work secured to said receiveradjacent the ear piece and thereby substantially spaced from the remote face of the body portion, a transmitter, a supporting frame work comprising a pair of elongate members extending through corresponding openings in the transmitter and frictionally engaged thereby to support the transmitter, said transmitter being slidable along said members for adjustment of the position of the transmitter lengthwise of said last mentioned frame work, means comprising a frictionally retarded hinge, connecting said frame works at localities spaced respectively from the receiver and transmitter, so that the frame works may be folded toward each other to hold the receiver and transmitter in compact, juxtaposed relation and may be opened to hold the transmitter and receiver frictionally in a spaced, operative relation.

6. The hand set described in claim 5, wherein the receiver ear piece and the transmitter have operating faces including annular portions of substantially plane configuration capable of close abutment with each other, and wherein said supporting frame works are shaped to bring the receiver and transmitter into the aforesaid abutment when the frame works are folded together and the transmitter is in one position of sliding adjustment.

7. A telephone hand set comprising a receiver, a transmitter, and supporting structure to the respective ends of which said receiver and transmitter are mounted, said supporting structure having a frictionally retarded hinge intermediate its ends to permit the transmitter to be folded with its face against the face of the receiver, said supporting structure disposing said receiver and transmitter with their faces in positions appropriate to use by a person for transmitting and receiving speech when the hand set is open, and said supporting structure being shaped, in cooperation with the hinge, to provide substantially atwise abutment of the receiver and transmitter faces, in the folded position, said frictionally retarded hinge comprising members mutually engaged over a large area, said members being in said supporting structure to constitute the latter as two hinged parts, one of said members resiliently exerting friction on the other over said area so that the parts of the supporting structure may be held by friction in any of a multiplicity of angular relations to each other.

8. A telephone hand set comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a supporting frame comprising a pair of spaced, stiff wires extending from the transmitter, a supporting frame comprising a pair of spaced, stiii wires extending from the receiver, frictionally retarded hinge means connecting said frames at localities of each spaced from the transmitter and receiver respectively, said receiver-connected frame including a flattened tubular member surrounding and engaging the wires of the latter frame and having a central, longitudinal portion shaped to form a conduit, and an electrical conductor passing through said conduit and extending between the transmitter and receiver.

9. A telephone hand set comprising a receiver having a face adapted to engage the ear of a user, a supporting structure secured to said receiver adjacent said face and extending to an end spaced from the receiver, said receiver having a body portion of substantial thickness disposed on the other side of said supporting structure from said earengaging face, and said supporting structure being in close proximity to said face, relative to the thickness of said body portion, a transmitter, a

9 supporting structure for the transmitter. said transmitter being frictionaily mounted thereon for sliding adjustment of the transmitter lengthwise of said last mentioned structure, said lastmentioned structure extending to an end spaced from the transmitter, and hinge means connect- 5 ing said structures at their said respective ends, so that the transmitter and receiver may be folded into contact relation and may be opened into spaced. operative relation.

STERLING G. SEARS.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTSY Number Name Date 955,923 Thompson Apr. 26, 1910 960,731 Taylor June 7, 1910 1,298,771 Nash et al Apr. 1, 1919 1,968,066 Anderson July 31, 1934 2,149,341 Harrison Mar. 7, 1939 

